Automatic station indicator



.Dec. 3, 1929. A. e. GUASTELLO AUTOMATIC STATION INDICATOR Filed May 5, 1928 INVENTOR. zff/zsa'wafeflb BY I g ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 3, 1929 FFlCh.

ALFOIFSC G. GEJ'ASTELLG, GE BRQQKLYH, NEW] YORK AUTOMATIC ETlhTlflhT INDICATOR- i'tpp'iication filed May 5,

This invention rela es g enerally to indicators, and has more partic reference to a. novel station indicator for trains.

lhe invention has for object the prevision of a device of the class mentioned which is of simple durable construction, desirable and efficient in action, and which can be manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost.

The device proposes the use of casings is adapted for attachment to the roofs of the cars of a train, and provided with webs hav ing of the stations along the road traveled by the said train hfleans for advancing the webs for indicating particular 15 stations are arranged within the casings and operable as the train passes a station.

2 For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages there of, reference will be had to the following deas scription and accompanying; drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the a companying drawing, forming a material part of this disclosure:

F1 u 1 :1 tii'ansv rie vertical sectional view n provieed with the station indicax Y s a vertical sectional view of the inso dicatorr then on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

is a fragmentary vertical sectional viewitalcen on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

l? 1 is a fragmentary perspective detail view of the front portion of the device a portion of the ne t stop sign being broken 'sclose the "arrow sign.

a schematic view of the wiring of noids shown in Fig 2. 6 a view similar to Fig. 1, but illusmodified form of the device. in. 7 a schematic view illustrating the wi ring thereof.

The ref "once numeral 10 indicates generally a car of a train immediately after pass ing station, and provided with seats 11 and s casing 13 is attached to the roof of the id l s a front window 14. Web mate- 15 n .th :1 ist of stations printed thereon is across tl'ie window and over idler 1928. Serial ll'o. 275,275.

rollers 16 and upon main rollers 17 which are lined on shafts 18 rotatively mounted in the casing. In all, there is an upper and a lower shaft 18, each of which has a gear 19 fixed thereon. and meshing with an idler 20 supported on the casing 13, for connecting the shafts 18 to turn in the same directions, so that when the web is let oil of one roller 17 it win dc upon the other roller 17.

Gear wheels 21 are loosely mounted on the shafts 18 and carry spring pressed pawls 22 eng ring the pawl wheels 23 fixed upon the shafts 18. Rack bars 2 1 mesh with the wheels 21, and the pawls 22 are oppositely di rooted so that the top rack bar 24; may be moved back and forth for winding the web upon the top roller 17, and the bottom rack bar 2 1 may be moved back and forth for winding the webupon the bottom roller 17.

The rack bars 2 1 engage in dash pots 25 provided with flanges 26 for attachment to the casing 13, and project from the opposite sides of the dash pots. These projecting ends are formed with elongated slots 27 on gaged by levers 28 and 28 pivoted. intermediate of their ends to the casing, and the free ends thereof projecting from the casing. llear each station along the train road, an abutment bar 29 is mounted and arranged for abutting the lovers 28 and 28 as the train passes. Springs 30 are attached to the free ends of therods 2 1, and are supported on clips 31 arranged for attachment on the casing 18.

As the train moves in one direction, the lovers 28 and 28' will be moved by the said ahutniient members. But the arrangement is such that one of the evers merely idles in the slot 27 while the other lever moves the rack bar 221 for idling the 21. Then as the spring 30 slowly draws the rack bar back to normal position, the dash pot functioning to produce this slow motion, gear 21 thru the pawl 22 turns the shaft 18 for advancing the web one step. Thus a one step advance is produced at each station. hen the train moves in the opposite direction, the other of the said levers function to move the web, while the first mentioned operative lever idles,

its in Fig. 1, two stations are visible 100 'an automatic switch at one time thru the window 14, and beis movably mounted, supported by springs 34 extended upwards and downwards at each end for holding the sign 33 in neutral posi tion, hidden behind the sign 32. The free ends of these springs connect with the plungers 35 ofsolenoids 36., The top solenoid is in circuit with a switch 37, a battery 38, and 39 normally urged closed by a spring 40 and openable by an arm 41 projecting from the switch and engageable against the abutment bar 29. The bottomsolenoid is in circuit with a switch 42 and the same battery and automatic switch.

When the train moves in one direction, switch 37 is manually closed for energizing the top solenoid 36 for drawing the pointer 33 upwards to indicate that the top station is the next train stop. As the train passes the abutment 29 the switch 39 is momentarily opened for causing the pointer to move and attract attention to the indicated station. When the train moves in the opposite direc tion switch 37 is opened and switch 42 closed for energizing the bottom solenoid 36 for drawing the pointer 33 downwards to indicate that the bottom stations are the next train stops.

In Figs. 6 and 7, the rack bars 24 connect Wlth solenoids 43 for their motion. These solenoids are in circuit with a battery 44, switches 45 and 46, and contacts 47. A short circuit plate 48 is mounted to some stationary part and in the path of the contacts 47 for closing the circuit across these contacts. The switches 45 and 46 are connected by a rod 49 so that when one switch is open the other switch is closed, for energizing one or the other of the solenoids 43, for advancing the web in one direction, or in the other. The pointer sign 33 is operated the same as above stated, but the arm 41 of the automatic switch is arranged for action against the plate 48.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be'understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction herein disclosed and the right is reserved to'all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by United States LettersPatent is:

1. A device of the class described, comprising astation indicator arranged with a mov-' ableweb with stations thereon, and adapted for movements to indicate that station at which a train stops, and the next station, a next station sign fixed acrossthe web, and an indicating sign arranged for upward or downward motionbeh'ind the said next station sign.

2. A device of the class described, comprising a station indicator arranged with a movable web with stations thereon, and adapted for movements to indicate that station at which a train stops, and the next station, a next station sign fixed across the web, and an indicating sign arranged for upward or downward motion behind the said next station sign for indicating the next station.

3. A device of the class described, comprising a casing, a web with stations thereon arranged for motion to indicate stations, and visible thru a window in the casin a next ALFONSO G. GUASTELLO. 

